At CNN’s Tea Party-indulging debate on Monday, Ron Paul, a medical doctor, faced a pointed line of questioning from Wolf Blitzer regarding the case of an uninsured young man who suddenly found himself in dire need of intensive health care.

Should the state pay his bills? Paul responded, “That’s what freedom is all about: taking your own risks. This whole idea that you have to take care of everybody—”

He never quite finished that point, letting the audience’s loud applause finish it for him. So Blitzer pressed on, asking if he meant that “society should just let him die,” which earned a chilling round of approving hoots from the crowd. Paul would not concede that much outright, instead responding with a personal anecdote, the upshot being that in such a case, it was up to churches to care for the dying young man.

As it turns out, Paul was not speaking purely in hypotheticals. Back in 2008, Kent Snyder — Paul’s former campaign chairman — died of complications from pneumonia. Like the man in Blitzer’s example, the 49-year-old Snyder (pictured) was relatively young and seemingly healthy* when the illness struck. He was also uninsured. When he died on June 26, 2008, two weeks after Paul withdrew his first bid for the presidency, his hospital costs amounted to $400,000. The bill was handed to Snyder’s surviving mother […], who was incapable of paying. Friends launched a website to solicit donations.

…snip…

After Snyder’s death, Paul posted a message to the website for his Campaign for Liberty — a pre-Tea Party organization which served Paul as both presidential marketing tool and platform to promote his non-interventionist, free market ideals.

He wrote:

“Like so many in our movement, Kent sacrificed much for the cause of liberty. Kent poured every ounce of his being into our fight for freedom. He will always hold a place in my heart and in the hearts of my family.”

And that, friends, is what freedom is really all about.

*The Kansas City Starquoted his sister at the time as saying that a “a pre-existing condition made the premiums too expensive.”

32 responses to “Libertarian Ghoulash”

Ah yes, “That’s freedom”. The freedom of the right-to-lifers who also cheer the death penalty. Say WHAT?!?
Off-topic: Here’s a couple websites relating to a prayer crusade marching on “Washington, District of Christ”.

Sorry, darlin’, didn’t mean for you to get a mahogany manicure. I’m just trying to get this idiocy brought to as many outlets as I can. And YOU were the first one I thought of! I thought maybe I might inspire you to some of your creative poster work? PUH-LEEZE? :D

that’s freedom!! freedom to be a batshit crazy lunatic with no empathy whatsoever. he must have been some doctor. the front door of his office probably had a slot where you had to insert cash in order for it to open.

I can intellectually process a difference in philosophies that might debate individual responsibility versus that of society. But, if after the death of a close friend and associate who could not obtain insurance – who’s mother had to bear the indignity of unbearable costs after the untimely death of her son – he cannot even question the ethics of his stance, I have no use for him. He should turn in his medical license.

I won’t even start on the death panel they had assembled for the debate. Suffice it to say, if they get their way the poverty issue will be dealt with in the Coliseum much as it was in ancient Rome.

if you really want to feel sick to your stomach, read the letter that was sent out, asking for money to pay the hospital bills. not a word about how terrible it is that he couldn’t afford health insurance. instead, it’s as though he should get sainthood for dying for the cause.

I sometimes wonder if this is all one big bad dream, or is it the reality, that these fringe whack jobs spout off.
Anybody who thinks guy is the greatest thing to come down the road since Swiss cheese was invented, is just gonzo as he his.

it does seems like a nightmare, don. i honestly cannot believe what i see in our politics today. it amazes me that asswipes like him, princess sarah, and botox batshit bachmann are revered, while teachers, cops, firefighters, and the postmen are the bad guys.

Well… a good lawyer would tell mom to demand to see the contract that her son signed. The mother is not responsible for her adult child’s debts; the contract is between the son and the hospital, and they cannot demand payment from anyone except the son’s estate.

What is infuriating is that debt holders actually have precedence over heirs. So let’s say he left an estate of $400,001 dollars. His mom (or other heir) would get the $1.

hey 10G! about damned time you hauled your ass over here again! :wink:

most people don’t realize that they aren’t liable for someone else’s credit card debt when the cardholder dies. collection agencies won’t tell you what the law is. credit card debt is unsecured, so there is no legal obligation to pay it unless you were a co-signer on the account.

That N-V link reminded me of the Spaniard who made first contact, climbed up the pyramid with the overwhelming smell of human blood, gets to the top where the high priest and king are, and witnessed a large tub in the center filled with beating human hearts….and on that downer note, what would a libertarian do? Check the market price of heart meat, of course!